After being eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday, the Arizona Diamondbacks did not hang their heads as they continue to play for pride and for the fans that still are showing up. Behind a three-run first inning and a strong final start by Cahill, Arizona defeated the Chicago Cubs 8-2 on Saturday night.
Arizona jumped on the Cubs and starter Justin Germano in the first inning. Centerfielder Adam Eaton led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Gerardo Parra. He was driven home on an Aaron Hill double. Justin Upton then singled Hill home and, with two outs, Mike Jacobs singled home Upton.
Arizona added a run in in the second when Adam Eaton scored a second time on another hit by Aaron Hill.
Justin Upton hit a mammoth shot to left for his 17th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fifth inning to make it 6-0. Cahill drove in the final two runs with a bases-loaded walk in the fifth and a single to drive home Mike Jacobs in the bottom of the seventh.
Cahill, in the meantime, was dealing. Through eight innings, he did not allow a run and only three hits. He did allow a two-run Alfonso Soriano homer in the ninth, but that was it. His complete game gave him 200 innings pitched and 13 wins.
For Chicago, the losing pitcher was starter Germano, who allowed seven runs in four innings and a third. He fell to 2-10 on the season.
The D-backs will try for the sweep on Sunday afternoon.